Withdrawal from ICC will not affect PHL’s int’l image, says UP prof

Withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) will not affect the Philippines' trade with other countries, UP political science professor Dr. Clarita Carlos said Thursday.

"Wala naman. It has nothing to do with selling mangoes and pineapples," said Carlos in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

Carlos noted that being a non-member of the ICC did not affect big nations such as China, the United States, India, and Russia.

"Ang sinasabi natin, bakit maliliit na bansa ang tinitingnan niyo?" she said.

The ICC has jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday announced that the Philippines is withdrawing its ratification of the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, due to “baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks” against him and his administration.

The announcement came after the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor announced in February that it will conduct a preliminary examination on allegations of crimes against humanity against Duterte and several officials of his administration in connection with the high death toll of his war on illegal drugs.

Carlos argued that the Philippines has yet to exhaust its domestic judicial procedures to investigate the claims the ICC wishes to examine.

"Hindi katanggap-tanggap sa atin 'yang mga extrajudicial killings. We are addressing it, it's not like we are dumb and stupid people na pinapabayaan na lang natin 'to. It's not the case, let it be," she said.

Carlos, who previously praised Duterte's peace and federalist initiatives, said this was not an apology for the government nor did she think that withdrawal at this stage was timely.

Prior to the Philippines' withdrawal, Burundi, Gambia, and South Africa announced plans to withdraw from the international body. Only Burundi followed through after the ICC announced plans to investigate major human rights violations in the country.

While the government is quick to say that the withdrawal voids the ICC's investigation on the alleged state-sanctioned killings, senators, local, and international groups said the investigation could not be terminated even with the withdrawal. —KBK, GMA News